Improvements long overdue

U.S. 31

July 20, 2011

Sometime about 1988, I read that the state of Indiana was going to make U.S. 31 five lanes from South Bend limits to Lakeville. Some part of it was done. After enough people were killed at Roosevelt Road and U.S. 31, that was changed.

In May 2004, I wrote to the Indiana Department of Transportation LaPorte District about its promises and plans. It said the Roosevelt Road project would be let for bids in November 2004 and Madison Road was scheduled to be let in 2007.

After nothing was done at Madison, I wrote back in 2009 with a copy of the May 2004 letter and InDOT shamelessly told me that since it was building a new U.S. 31, the Madison Road project was no longer scheduled, as there would be much less traffic. And, "We thank you for your patience."

And this even though adding another lane would only involve moving a few utility poles and a little jog in the northbound lane. There have been many accidents there.

When Jackie Walorski and Gov. Mitch Daniels were in Lakeville promoting the Toll Road lease, I asked them about the possibility of getting five lanes to Lakeville, and they said yes, that would be the first thing done after the lease was done.

Louis MyersSouth Bend

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Nonissue

Many voices and many opinions regarding the purchase of Family Dollar/gift to St. Joseph High have been offered. Here is mine:

1) St. Joseph's High School could have been relocated anywhere. Its leaders came to South Bend and said, "We will invest $30-plus million in your city; what can you do for us?" City said, "How 'bout a million?" And lo, it came to pass. Sounds like a fair deal to me.

2) Many wail that the million should have been invested in the South Bend schools, particularly in view of the fact some of these schools are in danger of being confiscated by the state. This small donation and all the king's horses would not raise test scores in the affected schools two points.

I have volunteered in several of these schools. I observed good facilities, adequate materials and seemingly dedicated teachers. The problem is with parents. Neither money, the school board nor state intervention will make a difference until parents take responsibility for instilling discipline, study habits, nutritional balance and rest (less TV, video games and social networking) in children. Until society seriously addresses the problems of children having children, absentee fathers, perpetuated cycle of welfare dependency and incentives for fatherless children, school performance will likely not improve and the Family Dollar nonissue will remain just that.

Virgil MincyGrangerProperties

The Tribune's report on the city of South Bend suing the owner of nuisance properties states that the houses are in the mayor's neighborhood. Not reported is the weariness and frustration of neighbors who have worked with South Bend police, Code Enforcement and legal staff over several years, documenting myriad violations to support the case against his irresponsible management. To imply that the city's action is driven by anything other than this belittles the neighbors' effort and insults the integrity of city staff.

The Near Northwest Neighborhood Nuisance Property Committee, which spearheaded this citizen effort, was founded to address problems created by residents/visitors who won't respect neighbors' right to live in peace. Santos Fernandez's properties have long generated problems, causing misery to neighbors, despite offers on the part of the nuisance committee and city staff to provide information and resources to help him manage his properties responsibly.

Fernandez notes that his tenants are poor. If he truly considers his investment property business a ministry he would provide not only well-maintained housing, but the training and requirement (via a lease) that his tenants comply to standards of respectful neighborliness. Poverty does not preclude intelligence or civility; to think otherwise is bigotry.